Handkäse
Handkäse is a German sour milk cheese from southern Hesse, named for the way it was once shaped by hand. It is small, translucent and yellow, with a pungent aroma and a sour taste, and it is usually served topped with chopped onions.
Key Facts
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Specific Origin | Southern Hesse, Germany |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk |
| Texture | Firm |
| Flavor | Sour |
| Aroma | Pungent |
| Colors | Translucent yellow |
| Also Known As | Handkäs, Handkäse mit Musik |
What is Handkäse Cheese?
Handkäse is a regional sour milk cheese from Germany, similar to Harzer. It is a specialty of Frankfurt am Main, Offenbach am Main, Darmstadt, Langen and other parts of southern Hesse.
The name means hand cheese and comes from the old way of producing it: the maker formed each piece with their own hands.
Each cheese is small, translucent and yellow. The aroma is pungent and the taste is sour.
It is usually served as an appetizer, topped with chopped or sliced onions. That version is called Handkäse mit Musik. Caraway is eaten on the cheese or served alongside, and some Hessians take a separate caraway dispenser as a sign of a good establishment. Apfelwein is the traditional accompaniment, while dry white wine is preferred in some areas such as Rheinhessen.
The music in the name is explained in several ways. One is a joke about the flatulence that raw onions cause later. Another points to the flasks of vinegar and oil served with the cheese striking a note against each other, and another to the bubbling of gases rising through the vinegar and oil during marinating.
How Does Handkäse Cheese Compare?
The most relevant cheeses to compare Handkäse against.
